French bishops say youth employment law protests signal 'deep crisis'

Published: 2006-04-11

LOURDES, France (CNS) -- France's Catholic bishops said the monthlong street protests about the youth employment law signal a "deep crisis" in the country, which requires more consideration of "youth suffering and distress." Whatever the assessment of the law and its effect on youth employment, many youth feel discriminated against, the bishops' conference said in a statement after an April 7 meeting in Lourdes. "A certain number of young people know that, from now on, through their difficulty in finding stable work, they will not be able to enjoy a standard of living comparable to their parents," they said. The bishops' statement was issued before an April 10 announcement by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin that he was scrapping controversial clauses in the employment law, which would have allowed employers to fire workers under 26 years old without explanation during a two-year trial period.

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